The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is defending its decision to bring charges against three former South Canterbury Finance (SCF) heads after two of the trio were acquitted yesterday.

Former South Canterbury Finance chief executive Lachie McLeod, 50, and former director, accountant Robert White, 70, were found not guilty on all charges by Justice Paul Heath after a long and complex trial.

The pair are now considering legal action against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for bringing the charges.

Former director, lawyer Edward Oral Sullivan, 72, was found guilty on five of nine charges, including making false statements and misuse of a document for pecuniary advantage. [He was director of SCF for 20 years from 23/04/90 to 31/03/10].

The SFO’s director, Julie Read, referred to the difficulties in bringing a case of this nature before the court. “This was a difficult and complex prosecution,” she said.

Full story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11342480

One of the objects of the Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (SPCS) from section 2(d) of its Constitution is:

“To focus attention on the harmful nature and consequences of ….. fraud, dishonesty in business, ………and other forms of moral corruption, for the purpose of moral and spiritual improvement. [Abbreviated]